 
|
|
|
Important Information About Farmed Salmon
08/10/04
By National Fisheries Institute
Much of the salmon we find in supermarkets and restaurants is farmed Atlantic salmon. Scientists and health professionals encourage consumers to eat fish, like salmon, twice a week because of the health benefits of Omega-3s, which studies have shown may help prevent heart disease. You can purchase salmon caught in the wild or farmed. Both are nutritious and delicious, containing an ample supply of omega-3s.
Farmed salmon, also called cultivated or aquacultured, are raised in large, floating enclosures in the cold, coastal waters of the U.S., Canada, Chile, Iceland, Norway and the U.K. Salmon farmers use modern techniques to ensure the health of their stocks, limit waste in the ocean, and prevent accidental escapes of farmed salmon that might interbreed with wild salmon. They use government-approved antibiotics to treat their salmon when necessary, and ensure that the salmon are not harvested until the antibiotics leave their systems.
Salmon farmers feed their fish with pellets made from fish meal or oil, cereals such as corn or soy, and vitamins. Farmers use only the amount of feed needed to grow the salmon to market size. The salmon feed also contains tiny amounts of natural or synthetic Astaxanthin, which is an important nutrient for the salmon and gives it a pink color. Wild salmon get this color from eating shrimp and krill. FDA requires that farmed salmon be labeled as having artificial color because of the Astaxanthin addition to the feed, but the fish is not injected or dipped in any way. And salmon sold in the United States must meet the Food & Drug Administration’s regulations on food safety.
Both wild and farmed salmon contain trace levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (in most cases more than 50 times below the amount allowed by FDA). The FDA began a review of its PCB standards in 2000, but continues to recommend eating salmon. Both wild and farmed salmon also contain trace amounts (measured in parts per billion) of PBDEs, but it is not known whether these compounds are harmful in such small amounts. The American Heart Association, the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization recommend regular fish consumption for its many health benefits.
To ensure you have the latest facts about farmed salmon, we encourage you to visit
http://www.was.org/main/FrameMain.asp
http://www.oceantrust.org/brief_book/chefs_guide_01_2001.htm
http://aqua.ucdavis.edu/organizations/NAA.html
http://www.salmonoftheamericas.com
http://www.salmonfarmers.org
http://www.nfi.org
 ISSUES MAIN
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
